Pope Francis

Monday, January 19, 2009

Jesus had warned his disciples "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." The secular world today, especially in America, will love you if you subscribe to its standards of belief. Stray beyond them and you will shunned, ridiculed, ostracized, belittled, and otherwise ignored. We must not be deceived into membership into that "world", God's universe is much larger. I believe and have professed here that we are about to engage in an era where the Church and our faith is going to be actively pursued by government and forces in the secular world. The pendulum has swung. I believe that many Americans will be shocked by the changes that are about to occur. There is an underlying attitude behind this hysteria that seeks revenge and there is an "activists" mentality that will cross beyond previous borders. America in its ignorance has given the okay to do so. Hold on for the ride because it is going to get bumpy. Jesus' life is the model to follow. At the time He was preaching, the Roman Empire was flexing its muscles and persecuting those who did not fall lockstep with it. Jesus recognized and understood them. He was not however in active opposition to them. This does not mean that we are to be silent when these evils rear their ugly head. We must always and everywhere support the sanctity and dignity of all human life. We must defend our right to practice our faith and not be compromised. First and foremost we must place our trust in God. No matter what anybody does, says, thinks, God always stands for righteousness and truth. We must find courage to stay faithful to Him when threatened. Satan has thrown a veil over the secular world causing it to live in darkness. If anything we can learn from the long history of our Church it is that "the gates of hell will not prevail against it". We must live our lives in ways that Christ can be a Light to the world piercing the darkness.

United in the mystery of the conversion of Paul, we pray for the grace of conversion in our own life:R. Lord, Give me the Grace of Conversion

Lord Jesus,

When I look at my life from the starting point of my own insufficiences, instead of from the fact of your compassion, grace, and love for me. R.

When I would prefer to live by my own thoughts and my own understanding instead of by your Truth which alone can set me free.R.

When I would rather brood over what annoys me than turn myself over to you always invite me to come to you. R.

When I obsess over self-absorption, complacency, and self-assertiveness. R.

When I get dejected about my sin, not because it offends you, but because it prevents me from being able to take delight in myself. R.

Whenever I live in a dualistic way, as if my faith and "my real life" are two separate things, R.

When I am deceived into thinking that my happiness depends on something in the future instead of what you give me in the present moment, R.

When discouragement and shame make hard for me to be faithful, R.

When I become distraught over the evil I would commit if left to myself, forgetting that I do not live according to myself but that I live in you, R.

When self-doubt and fear seem to have the last say, R.

When I miss the point of my fragility, a gift you give me so that I will always be prompted to rely on you, R.

When I am inclined to interpret my problems as punishments and my miseries as being abandoned by God, R.

When impenetrability takes over my life, making me resistant to your beauty and all the little ways you ordain yourself to me, R.

When I get distracted by my feelings, my emotions, my passions, my regrets, R.When I get duped into thinking that I must fix myself up in order to have a relationship with you, forgetting that you come to me with your love just the way I am, R.

When I treat my faith like some abstract answer to be sought instead of as a loving Presence to be affirmed, R.

When I get discouraged by chronic or recurring sins in my life, R.

When I would attempt to earn you favor by achievements, forgetting that I did not choose you, but it is you who chose me, R.

When scandalized by my own selfishness and self assertion, R.

When the oppressive nihilism of life makes me ignore or reduce the desires of my heart that lead me to you, R.

When independence and self-sufficiency make me resist the companionship with others through which you will give me your friendship and tenderness, R.

Whenever I treaty my preconceptions like idols that drain my life of wonder and simplicity, R.

When the evidence of all that is wrong with my life leads me to become paralyzed, indifferent or lax, R.

When I get preoccupied with my self-justifications trying to convince myself that I am loveable, R.

When I would rather live my life in a safe or sheltered way instead of living my life as a risk, putting your will first in all things, R.

When the daily inner rebellion makes me cynical and negative about what really matters, R.

When my misgivings keep me from receiving the fresh embrace of love you offer me at every moment, R.